MARSEILLE chief Pablo Longoria has revealed that he consulted his mum over whether to sign Mason Greenwood.
The French giants signed the controversial forward from Manchester United in the summer of 2024.
Greenwood, 24, had not played for the Red Devils in more than two years, having been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault in January 2022, before being hit with further charges of rape and attempted assault.
All charges were dropped against Greenwood in February 2023, and he resumed his career on loan at Getafe during the 2023-24 season.
Man Utd had initially planned to reintegrate their academy graduate, only to perform a U-turn following a backlash from fans.
Greenwood went on to permanently sign for Marseille in July 2024 in a deal potentially worth more than £30million.
‘SEX SLAVE’ PROBE
Bale’s footie agent ‘threatened to kill sex slave he kept for 6yrs’
BECK AND CALL
David Beckham trolls his son with 3-word post after Man Utd win over Arsenal
Quizzed by the Telegraph about why his club decided to sign Greenwood, Marseille’s president Longoria admitted that he had asked his mother, a former prison officer, for advice.
The Spaniard, 40, said: “For me, it’s correct to speak openly about it. Creating taboos in life is never positive.
“For us it was a massive market opportunity from a sporting perspective where we analysed, very carefully, what really happened.
“In that case, having done due diligence and having all the information – and this is the first time I speak about this – with all the information I called my mother.
“And I said ‘what do you think, knowing all the situation?’ And my mother, who used to work in the prison system in Spain, having a very innovative prison system model in Spain – she was recognised with the medal of the state – so I ask her, having all this information, ‘what would you do in my position?’ And she said to me ‘do it’. With all the information.
“It was important because I wanted someone who doesn’t have the incentive of the sport, because the talent is there, that her only incentive is the good of her son.
“As a man, not as a president. And, for me, it was very important that she said to me, knowing all of this, ‘do it’.”
Longoria went on to add: “I know that the situation, it’s so many times, potentially reputational [damage].
“But, I repeat, if you think that you are taking the right decision, with the right level of information, and from a human perspective as well, because Mason, he’s a good kid, seriously. From that time, I sleep at night.”
Greenwood has scored 42 goals in 64 appearances for Marseille.
This season he has twice faced England opposition, Newcastle and Liverpool, in the Champions League.
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi recently claimed that Greenwood could win the Ballon d’Or.
The Italian, 46, said: “I see Mason every day and he has huge potential. I don’t see any other players in Europe at the same level.
“He has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or.
“At the level of the qualities that nature and his parents have given him, he is worthy of the Ballon d’Or.
“It will be up to him to decide whether he wants to do everything he can to fight for it or not.”
Read the full article here
